In The Name of God most gracious I Silvanus Stokes of Pittsylvania County being weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and reason do this day and year make, ordain and publish this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, this is to say, to wit, and first of all is my Will and desire that all my just Debts be paid and satisfide.
Item I give and bequeath to my Sun Allen Stokes all my Land on the South side of White oak Creek from the mouth of Allen Stokes Spring Branch to the upper line, to him and his heirs forever. I give likewise to my Son Allen one Negro Man name Cyrus, together with sundry kinds of Stock and Household furniture which he has now in possession to him and his Heirs forever.
Secondly I give and bequeath to my Sun Silvanus Stokes all my Land on the South side of White oak Creek from the Mouth of Camp branch to the Mouth of Allen Stokes Spring branch, thence up the main fork of the said branch to my own line at the foot of the great Mountain thence along the said line to my corner Hickry, thence a new line to a small Persimon tree, thence a new line to my Mountain Road, thence down the said Roade to the Camp branch, thence down the said branch to the begining, likewise one Negro Man name Bradock with sundry other Articles of Stock and Household furniture, which he has allready recev’d to him and his heirs forever.
Thirdly I give and bequeath to my sons Allen Stokes and Silvanus Stokes all my Land betwen the North and middle fork of White oak Creek to be divided betwen them by the Rackoon branch from the Mouth to the head and then by a line drawn from the head of the said branch to a White oak corner bush in Adamses line, the upper part to Allen Stokes and his heirs forever, & the lower part to Silvanus Stokes and his heirs forever and
forthly I give and bequeath to my Son Joel Allen Stokes all the Land and Plantation where I now live together with a Negro Man named Peter and one Negro girl named Celia with Sundry other Articles and Household furniture which he has received to him and his heirs forever, it is my Will desire that Joel Stokes return from Kentucky and Settle this Land in any part that will not distress his Mother, and take care of her during her life and after her death to Take the full Injoyment of the whole to himself.
Fifthly I give to my Daughter Susannah May Fifty pounds Cash to be paid to her or her heirs by my Executors on the day my Estate is divided.
Sixthly I give to my daughter Elizabeth Allen Neal Fifty pounds Cash to be paid to her or her Heirs on the day my Estate is divided by my Executors.
Seventhly I give to my daughter Sally Walker Dupuy Fifty pounds Cash to be paid to her or her Heirs on the day my Estate is divided by my Executors.
Eighthly I give to my wife Sarah Stokes the use of my Land and Plantation whereon I now live, together with Stocks and Household furniture of every kind with all my working tools of every kind during her natural life or Widowhood together with the following Negroes, Cato, Bob, Tom, Jack Abram, Martin & Lucy, Nancey, Cloe, Lucey, Fanney, Ansaca, Dinah, Juno, Hannah, Dilcey.
Now it is my desire that all my Estate not heretofore given to my three above named Daughters be and remain the possession of them and their heirs forever.
Now it is my Will and desire that all my Estate that reamains after my Wife’s death be collected together and an equal division of the same be made betwen my Sons and Daughters nam’d in the first Clauses of this my last Will and Testament after paying my three daughters fifty pounds a piece as before menticd in my Will, And Whereas I have made it my indever to make the division of my Estate as Equitable as I possible could it is my desire that the same be received without Contention, disputes or Law Sutes, and I due hereby constitute and appoint my two Sons Allen Stokes and Silvanus Stokes whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and revoking every other Will or Wills heretofore by me made do acknowledge confess and declare this my last Will & Testament, as Witness my hand and Seal this Twentyfirst day of April one thousand seven hundred and ninty eight.
Silvanus Stokes (Seal)
Sign’d, Seal’d & deliver’d in the presences of us
Christopher Robertson
Joseph Rogers
James Sayers
Jeduthan Caster
